Downer New Zealand Ltd will defend an Occupational Health and Safety charge laid after employee Graham Robert Brown, of Dunedin, was killed while working on the Milford road last year.
The company appeared in the Invercargill District Court yesterday charged with failing to take all practicable steps to ensure Mr Brown's safety while an air-compressor was being operated.
A not guilty plea was entered and the company was remanded to September 11 for a pre-trial status hearing.
Mr Brown (67) died on October 19 when he was hit in the head by a compressed-air hose while helping to clear a major slip near Monkey Creek.
Ambulance staff were flown in from Te Anau but could not revive Mr Brown.
